From WRIL -
At 2:20 pm on Friday, February 5, 2021, Middlesboro Officer Chris Barnes was dispatched to a call of a red 1998 Jeep Cherokee wrecking on Nutwood Lane in front of Rennie Gayle Housing Authority. The caller stated to Dispatch that someone got out of the vehicle and fled the scene running toward Hinks Heights.
Upon arrival, Officer Barnes found the vehicle in a large ditch and that it did not have any tags. Dispatch advised that the vehicle came back as title only.
Officer Barnes traveled to Hinks Heights in an attempt to find the driver that ran from the scene. His investigation lead him to one of the apartments that bordered 25th street where 20-year-old Damien Russell of Wheeling, West Virginia was coming out of the residence with a large bag of what was determined to be Marijuana. A search of Russell revealed distribution bags, digital scales, and cash from his pants.
While speaking to Officer Barnes, Russell admitted to driving the vehicle and having mechanical problems that caused the accident. As the officer asked him to step over to his vehicle, Russell began screaming and cursing. He was then arrested and placed in the police cruiser which caused Russell to scream more and make threats against Officer Barnes and his family specifically after he was released from jail.
Damien Trevor Christopher Russell was lodged in the Bell County Detention Center charged with:
Trafficking Marijuana – 1st offense (less then 8 oz.), buying/possessing drug paraphernalia, terroristic threatening – 3rd degree, disorderly conduct – 2nd degree, leaving the scene of an accident, no registration plates, failure to produce insurance card, and license to be in possession. He was also served with two failure to appear warrants.